| Calvary Episcopal Church, Rockdale |
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| THE 24th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 30 October, 2005 The Rev. Robert C. Granfeldt |
| Previous Sermons |
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Hear this you heads of the House of Jacob and rulers of the
House of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who
build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong, …because
of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; (and) Jerusalem shall
become a heap of ruins….
House of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who
build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong, …because
of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; (and) Jerusalem shall
become a heap of ruins….
Last week I spoke to you about hyperbole in Scripture – how the writers and the
prophets were prone to exaggerating their pronouncements, and particularly as they
described the punishments that were in store for those who disregarded the commands
of the Lord for righteousness.
And I spoke to you, as well, about the shift that occurred in the time of the prophets,
away from the personal sins and responsibilities of an earlier age to the corporate
responsibility of Israel, itself – of the society – for it’s failings: for its failure to be a just
society; for its failure to care for the poor and the unfortunate; for its bias toward the
wealthiest and the most comfortable rather than the poorest and weakest.
Today’s lessons bring us more hyperbole – but also, clearly, more condemnation and
more warnings! Here, Micah’s condemnation comes down upon the heads, first, of the
false prophets – the advisors – who misuse their office for their own greed and gain, and
then for the leaders who care not for justice and who “pervert equity” – that is, who
stand fairness on its head, and take advantage of the poor for the aggrandizement and
enrichment of the wealthy and the powerful – themselves and their friends!
And in this morning’s Gospel reading from Matthew our Lord continues in the same vein,
condemning the scribes and the Pharisees, the rabbis and the leaders, for preaching
and teaching the requirements of the Law to their followers, while ignoring those same
requirements for their own wealth, comfort and public honor!
Thus has it ever tended to be, throughout history and the world over: leaders thinking of
those they lead only in terms of what their followers can do for Them – rather than what
They can do for their followers!; and the advisors to those leaders – whether lay or
religious – telling the leaders what they want to hear, for the sake of their own position
and enrichment!
Exceptions are rare – but remembered. Just this past week, we commemorated in the
Wednesday morning Mass, Alfred, King of Wessex, in England, from 871 ‘till his death in
899. A man who loved learning and solitude, he wound up a reluctant king at the death of
his father and brothers; a man who loved peace and hated war, he defeated the Danish
invaders, bringing peace to Central England and ensuring the survival of Christianity in
that land, and bringing a revival of learning, justice and faithfulness to his kingdom – for
all of which he is remembered 12 centuries later: the only British Monarch to be honored
with the title, “the Great”! Alfred the Great was one of History’s exceptions! One of
history’s Few exceptions!
Most leaders, ancient or modern, even those who start out well intentioned, lose their
way and forget who it is they are supposed to serve: not themselves, nor their cronies,
nor their wealthy supporters – but God’s people, God’s beloved: the poor, the sick, the
naked, the homeless, the imprisoned. Rich or poor at the outset; Tory or Whig, liberal or
conservative, Republican or Democrat, they lose their way, they forget, they turn their
backs. And the advisors and counselors who guide them, teach them, preach to them,
pray with them – they, too, lose their way.
Yesterday, having begun work on this sermon, things took a rather unexpected turn
when I checked my e-mail, yesterday and discovered a coincidence. I found something in
my in-box that very much fit in with what I was already saying, and illustrated it.
It fits in what is to me an obvious way, but I’m going to let you make the connections! So if
you’ll bear with me, I’m just going to read to you the E-mail and let you fill in the blanks!
It begins with a brief introduction:
And it continues:
As I pointed out to you last week: these things are not about economic theories. They are
not about political theories. They are not about political rivalries or competitions. They
are not about sociological models.
They are about the Gospel! They are about the two-thousand-year history of the Church,
its understandings and its teachings! They are about the Word of God and the words of
the Christ reported to us. They are about loving our neighbor, even as we love
ourselves – even as we love out God!
And they are about wondering when a nation which so vociferously insists it is a
“Christian” nation, will begin to bring to bear in its deliberations, in its aspirations, in its
decisions, the clear, obvious, compelling teachings of the Lord it claims to serve.
In the Name of that same Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen!
prophets were prone to exaggerating their pronouncements, and particularly as they
described the punishments that were in store for those who disregarded the commands
of the Lord for righteousness.
And I spoke to you, as well, about the shift that occurred in the time of the prophets,
away from the personal sins and responsibilities of an earlier age to the corporate
responsibility of Israel, itself – of the society – for it’s failings: for its failure to be a just
society; for its failure to care for the poor and the unfortunate; for its bias toward the
wealthiest and the most comfortable rather than the poorest and weakest.
Today’s lessons bring us more hyperbole – but also, clearly, more condemnation and
more warnings! Here, Micah’s condemnation comes down upon the heads, first, of the
false prophets – the advisors – who misuse their office for their own greed and gain, and
then for the leaders who care not for justice and who “pervert equity” – that is, who
stand fairness on its head, and take advantage of the poor for the aggrandizement and
enrichment of the wealthy and the powerful – themselves and their friends!
And in this morning’s Gospel reading from Matthew our Lord continues in the same vein,
condemning the scribes and the Pharisees, the rabbis and the leaders, for preaching
and teaching the requirements of the Law to their followers, while ignoring those same
requirements for their own wealth, comfort and public honor!
Thus has it ever tended to be, throughout history and the world over: leaders thinking of
those they lead only in terms of what their followers can do for Them – rather than what
They can do for their followers!; and the advisors to those leaders – whether lay or
religious – telling the leaders what they want to hear, for the sake of their own position
and enrichment!
Exceptions are rare – but remembered. Just this past week, we commemorated in the
Wednesday morning Mass, Alfred, King of Wessex, in England, from 871 ‘till his death in
899. A man who loved learning and solitude, he wound up a reluctant king at the death of
his father and brothers; a man who loved peace and hated war, he defeated the Danish
invaders, bringing peace to Central England and ensuring the survival of Christianity in
that land, and bringing a revival of learning, justice and faithfulness to his kingdom – for
all of which he is remembered 12 centuries later: the only British Monarch to be honored
with the title, “the Great”! Alfred the Great was one of History’s exceptions! One of
history’s Few exceptions!
Most leaders, ancient or modern, even those who start out well intentioned, lose their
way and forget who it is they are supposed to serve: not themselves, nor their cronies,
nor their wealthy supporters – but God’s people, God’s beloved: the poor, the sick, the
naked, the homeless, the imprisoned. Rich or poor at the outset; Tory or Whig, liberal or
conservative, Republican or Democrat, they lose their way, they forget, they turn their
backs. And the advisors and counselors who guide them, teach them, preach to them,
pray with them – they, too, lose their way.
Yesterday, having begun work on this sermon, things took a rather unexpected turn
when I checked my e-mail, yesterday and discovered a coincidence. I found something in
my in-box that very much fit in with what I was already saying, and illustrated it.
It fits in what is to me an obvious way, but I’m going to let you make the connections! So if
you’ll bear with me, I’m just going to read to you the E-mail and let you fill in the blanks!
It begins with a brief introduction:
And it continues:
As I pointed out to you last week: these things are not about economic theories. They are
not about political theories. They are not about political rivalries or competitions. They
are not about sociological models.
They are about the Gospel! They are about the two-thousand-year history of the Church,
its understandings and its teachings! They are about the Word of God and the words of
the Christ reported to us. They are about loving our neighbor, even as we love
ourselves – even as we love out God!
And they are about wondering when a nation which so vociferously insists it is a
“Christian” nation, will begin to bring to bear in its deliberations, in its aspirations, in its
decisions, the clear, obvious, compelling teachings of the Lord it claims to serve.
In the Name of that same Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen!
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| Previous Sermon |
On October 28, 2005, the Right Reverend Charles E. Bennison,
Jr, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, issued the
following statement Opposing the Fiscal Year 2006 Federal
Budget Reconciliation Act pending before Congress:
Jr, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, issued the
following statement Opposing the Fiscal Year 2006 Federal
Budget Reconciliation Act pending before Congress:
As the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, I feel
compelled to call upon Senators Santorum and Specter to
oppose the budget reconciliation package now before
Congress. I am deeply concerned for the working poor,
children and elderly of our country as the Congress considers
the Fiscal Year 2006 Federal Budget Reconciliation Act, which
could potentially cut more than $50 billion dollars in programs
that serve those greatest in need.
Every faith tradition instills in its followers a concern for the
poor. The example of Christ guides Christians by instilling in us
a commitment to the least among us. Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita exposed the anguished faces of the poor in the wealthiest
nation on the planet. Ironically, just as disaster struck the Gulf
Coast, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that poverty in the
United States is growing with 37 million people living in poverty
in 2004, an increase of more than one million people since 2003.
The budget process provides the opportunity for Congress and
the President to come together and focus on the poverty that
exists in this nation. Congress must not exacerbate poverty
across the United States, in Pennsylvania, and locally in the
Philadelphia region by passing a budget that further
impoverishes one group of poor people in our nation in order
to help those impoverished or further impoverished by the
recent hurricanes. Cuts in Food Stamps, Medicaid, child care
and children’s health programs are simply unacceptable.
I have contacted Senators Specter and Santorum to urge them
to oppose the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Reconciliation package
now before Congress. Congress must instead bring forth a
federal budget that reflects our values and priorities and our
nation’s historic commitment to the least among us.
compelled to call upon Senators Santorum and Specter to
oppose the budget reconciliation package now before
Congress. I am deeply concerned for the working poor,
children and elderly of our country as the Congress considers
the Fiscal Year 2006 Federal Budget Reconciliation Act, which
could potentially cut more than $50 billion dollars in programs
that serve those greatest in need.
Every faith tradition instills in its followers a concern for the
poor. The example of Christ guides Christians by instilling in us
a commitment to the least among us. Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita exposed the anguished faces of the poor in the wealthiest
nation on the planet. Ironically, just as disaster struck the Gulf
Coast, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that poverty in the
United States is growing with 37 million people living in poverty
in 2004, an increase of more than one million people since 2003.
The budget process provides the opportunity for Congress and
the President to come together and focus on the poverty that
exists in this nation. Congress must not exacerbate poverty
across the United States, in Pennsylvania, and locally in the
Philadelphia region by passing a budget that further
impoverishes one group of poor people in our nation in order
to help those impoverished or further impoverished by the
recent hurricanes. Cuts in Food Stamps, Medicaid, child care
and children’s health programs are simply unacceptable.
I have contacted Senators Specter and Santorum to urge them
to oppose the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Reconciliation package
now before Congress. Congress must instead bring forth a
federal budget that reflects our values and priorities and our
nation’s historic commitment to the least among us.
Hear this you heads of the House of Jacob and rulers of the House
of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build Zion
with blood and Jerusalem with wrong, …because of you Zion shall
be plowed as a field; (and) Jerusalem shall become a heap of
ruins….
of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build Zion
with blood and Jerusalem with wrong, …because of you Zion shall
be plowed as a field; (and) Jerusalem shall become a heap of
ruins….
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